Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 54: Shri svAdhina Vallabha (OM svAdhInavallabhAyai namaH)

From namam 52, we will be seeing the Divine Mother’s residence description up to Namam 63.

The Divine Mother keeps Her husband Lord Kamesvaran (Shiva) always under Her control. What this namam can also mean is that the Divine Mother blesses the wives "keep their husband attached to them "affectionate to them" "sincere to them" "faithful to them" "true to them" "committed to them"

The Divine Mother has no difference of opinion with the Lord Kamesvaran (Shiva).She is the sakthi or power behind Him, being the other half of Lord Shiva as in Arthanareesawar. They are like the heat and the fire. Without the fire, there is no heat. So we may think that She exists because of Lord Shiva. In reality the Lord Shiva is the one under the Divine Mother’s control. For anything the Lord Shiva does or wants to do, He always needs the Divine Mother’s help. Great sage Adi Sankarar records in Soundarya Lahari very first song that Lord Shiva can do things only when He has the Divine Mother with Him. Without the Divine Mother’s assistance, Lord Shiva cannot even move.

Tantrasatra like Sutasamhita and Soundarya Lahari clearly tell that Brahma, Vishnu and Siva do their tasks only with the Divine Mother’s blessing.

  

By thinking about the Divine Mother and praying to Her, the confused and fighting couples can get understanding between them to be united back. Even if it reaches the stage that the husband and wife are to be separated (divorce at a final stage), with praying to the Divine Mother, both the husband and the wife still can and will reunite together.

Devi Bhagavata confirms that Indran’s wife got the Divine Mother’s blessings to keep her husband Indran be affectionate to her. Similarly to get Lord Krishna, the Rukmani Devi prayed to and got the Divine Mother’s help.

There is one ancient story of Sukanya: She was the devoted wife of old and unattractive sage Cyavana. It is said that two higher souls from Deva loga came to their place of living. They turned the old sage Cyavana to a handsome young man looking similar to two higher souls themselves. Sukanya was confused. She prayed to the Divine Mother and sought Her help and blessing to choose he correct sage Cyavana again among the three handsome young people. Sukanya did choose the correct sage Cyavana and lived happily.

In earlier namam, we saw that the Divine Mother sits on Lord Kamesvaran’s left lap. There is no kamam or desire in this united figure as both are the same unified supreme self. When we pray to Lord Shiva and or the Divine Mother as in the united supreme figure, this namam “SvAdhina Vallabha” indicates that both Lord Kamesvaran(Shiva) and the Divine Mother will bless the devotee.

Close enough meanings of new words used:

Tantrasastra: hymns of the Rigveda with the meaning wrap or weaving; a profound science that exploits the sound form; connotes a system; a study of the absolute and the first principle.

Sutasamhita: a favourite book for the sages; part of Skanda Purana with 100, 000 slokas.

Soundarya Lagari: 100 songs tribute to the Divine Mother’s beauty done by great sage Adi Sankar in Sanskrit. It has a background story that the Lord Siva Himself gave some portion of these 100 songs to Adi Sankar who added the rest to make it to 100 songs. The devotees have to be really blessed to use such wonderful Soundarya Lagari slogams to pray to the Divine Mother.

Bhagavata: follower or worshipper of Mahavishnu; holy, sacred or divine

svAdhina: being at one’s own disposal; having prosperity in one’s own power.

Vallabha: beloved; pleasing

C N Nachiappun

Singapore, 18 March 2020.